The Mattabesset String Collective, a five-piece Wesleyan-affiliated acoustic ensemble, performed at a venue in Higganum, Conn., on July 29. The group plays an eclectic mix of bluegrass, blues, folk, mountain, country, and rock, all in a string band style. (Photos by Olivia Drake and Bill Burkhart)
Barry Chernoff, the Robert Schumann Professor of Environmental Studies and director of the College of the Environment, plays guitar, harmonica, and writes his own songs.Gil Skillman, professor of economics, plays a dobro—an acoustic guitar with a metal resonator that serves as an amplifier. Skillman also plays the banjo and cuatro, a Latin-American string instrument.
Rebecca McCallum, head cataloging librarian at Olin Library, plays fiddle and is the group’s lead singer.Marc Eisner, the Henry Merritt Wriston Chair in Public Policy and professor of government, performs on mandolin. Eisner built his own mandolins and a mandola.Kevin Wiliarty, a former academic technologist at Wesleyan, plays bass.Tony Hernandez, assistant technical director for the Center for the Arts, serves as the band’s sound engineer.The group practices weekly and performs four to six times a year in venues throughout Connecticut.
Olivia Drake
Jeff Harder
Mike Mavredakis